lasher



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. LASHER. STITCH HOLDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

No. 481,631. Patented Aug. 30, 1892 WITNESSES:

INYENTDRI LW FRANK LASI-IBR,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. 7 1E. 'LASHER.

Patented Aug. 30, 1892.

- FRANK LAEHER (No Model.)

STITCH HOLDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MAGHINES. .No. 481,631.

WITNEEEE S:

- To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK LASHER, OF BEN NINGTON, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LASHER STOCKING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

STITCH-HOLDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,631, dated August 30, 1892.

Application filed August 21, 1888. Serial No. 283,851. (No model.)

Be it known that I, FRANK LASHER, of the town of Bennington, in the county of Benningtonand State of Vermont, have invented certainlmprovementsin Stitch- HoldingMechanisms for Knitting-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying two sheets of drawings, constitutes a specification.

The subject-matter of this invention is applicable to rotary machines for tubular knitting, and some features thereof are equally applicable to stitch-holders used on machines for straight knitting. It embraces improvements in the stitch-holdingblades themselves at the points where they take the yarn between the needles, and also relates to a special form of the stitch-holder blade and mode of pivoting the same so that it may beworked by oscillation and may be individually inserted in or removed from the machine without disturbing the pivot of oscillation or any of the adjacent parts, together with special appliances for operating such blades when in use.

My invention is fully shown in the accompanying sheets of drawings as applied to a small rotary machine for knitting a tubular fabric like a cuff or a stocking-leg, in which the finished product passes down into or through the interior of the knitting-cylinder.

Figure 1 is a partial plan view of the top of a needle-cylinder, showing my improved stitch-holders and one of the cam-plates for operating them in one direction in position. Fig. 2 is a vertical diametrical section taken on the plane of the line 1 2 of Fig. 1, and shows one of the stitch-holders in elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a partial transverse section through the cylinder, taken on the line 5 6 of Fig. 4, and shows the two lower cam-plates in position. Fig. 4 shows a vertical section taken on the plane of line 3 i of Fig. 3 of the cylinder cam-plate and socket in which it is adjusted. Fig. 5 isa top plan View which shows the relative positions of the stitch-holder and needles and the yarn with which they are supplied. Fig. 6 shows a rear View of the needles and of the front section of the stitch-holder points, showing position of the yarn and stitches. Figs. 7

and 8 are respectively a plan and cross-sectional view of the fulcru med hoop upon which the oscillating stitch holders are pivoted. Fig. 9 is a face view of that section of the needles opposite the feed-thread, showing the position assumed by the thread as it is paid in, and also the position of the needles at the same time.

The first part of my invention relates to the peculiar construction of that part of the stitch-holding blade which supports the yarn between the needles, whereby means are provided for preventing the upward stroke of the needles from splitting or damaging the stitch supported by said blades and their downstroke from shearing them off, and whereby extra space is provided for the yarn between the blades. This is accomplished by milling down both sides of the yarn-supporting part of the stitch-holding part of the blade, so as to leave a thin standing web, which carries the stitch, flanked on each side along its under edge abreast of the needles bya thicker rib, which fends off the needles from damaging interference with the yarn on the stitch-holders.

Another part of my invention relates to special provisions for pivoting the stitch-holders by means of open notches out in one of their edges upon a fulcrum-ring or upon a circumferential series of pivots, which surrounds or surround the needle-cylinder, in connection with a pair of cams or analogous devices arranged one above and one below the plane of the pivot of oscillation for the purpose of imparting to said stitch-holders their appropriate movements.

The improvement first mentioned is shown in Figs. 2 and 5. In Fig. 2 the stitch-holder is shown at H. It is of thin metallic plate of figure 7 shape. The lower limb is notched on its inner edge, so as to turn or oscillate on a pivot B. The upper member is milled down from the top to the line no 00, so as to leave a thin standing web 1', which is notched at o to catch onto the last thread or onto the edge of the fabric, as hereinafter described.

Several advantages resultfrom this mode of construction. A thicker plate can be employed in making the stitch-holders than could otherwise be used on fine gages, thereby rendering them more durable and less liable to break. With stitch-holders of ordinary thickness made in this way great freedom-for the yarn between them and the needles is obtained and the liability of the thread being broken by knots in the same or bunches thereon getting caught between the needles and stitch-holders is greatly diminished.

The second part of my invention is shown. as applied toarotaryneedle-cylinder adapted to knitting a tubular fabric. This cylinder is shownin longitudinal sectionin Figs.2 and 4 at A. 'It is longitudinally grooved, as seen at t t, for the needles N, which are moved ver-' tically by means of a stationary cam-race u,

through which the shanks o of the needles. Cylinder A has a circumferential groove cut in its external surface a short dis travel.

tance from the top and across the needle- L are sprung.

form an ann ular elastic spring.

barely space for free vertical play of the same.

cured firmly to the cylinder.

the stitch-holder H oscillates.

edges, so as to maintain proper position and play or oscillate upon the pivotring.

as the open feature permits their easy detachment or removal from the machinewithout disturbing the fulcrum or pivot-ring on which they oscillate. Thus any stitch-holder may be removed without disturbing the others or When all the holders' are in position, they are confined by the springits fulcrum-bearing.

band D, which is similar in construction tothe bands L L. The pivot-band B is-placed vertically at such an elevation aswill'permitthw top of the stitch-holder to play freelyover but 1n close proximity to the top edge of th eneedle-cylinder. I

The table of the machine is seen at J, Fig.

4, and is perforated with a circular opening, 1n whlch the needle-cylinder is concentrically In this opening a} adjusted and revolves.

These open notches possess special advantages over the ordinary construction of a hole and pivot,

The relative positions of the needles and stitch holders are shown-in plan in Figs. 1 and 5 and in elevation in Figs. 2, 4, and 9. The movements of the stitch-holders are controlled by the upper cam-plate E and the under camplates T T. Two of the latter are provided to facilitate reciprocal knitting.

In .themachine illustrated the cylinder may have motion in eitheror both directions. In practice when the heel of the stitch-holder strikes thebevelfof cam T it is forced inwardly and the blade part is thrown outwardly or partially withdrawn from under the stitch and so that the :point 0 shall be drawn back behind the range of needles and out from under the last stitch which is dropped onto the inner and lower part of blade 1'. As the cylinder revolves when the heel of the holder passes off point e e of plate T,the upper part orhead of theholder markedn engagesbevel h of plate E and in passing it is crowded inwardly between the needles. In doing this the point 0 forces the last-formed serles of stitches into the position shown in Fig. 5. This position of the blades causes the thread of the lastformed rowof stitches to be drawn snugly around the stems of theneedles in Above the spring-bands and at the top of the cylinder is fitted a pivot-band B. This is se-* It is transversely grooved with the same number of slots asthecylinder, as shown at t -t",Fig.7, and it also has a circumferential groove g running around its outer edge, in which is firmly secured the pivot-ring B. The transverse slots are of a width to receive thestitch holders H and allow them to freely turn therein. The ring B constitutes a fulcrum where it crosses each slot t" 15", across or upon which The stitchholders are notched, as shown on their inner such way that when the needle commences to ascend preparatory to receiving a new'feed the latch will unavoidably be opened andthe Web of thefabric will be held back free and clear of the needles while the needleis descending, as from h to hin Fig. 9, and is then forming a new series of stitches. The WGb Of the fabric-as made is, -bythereciproeating action -of the stitch -*holder "blades,

worked off the inner end ofthe blades-1' r and is delivered intothe interior of the needlecylinder.

In this machine no weight or take-up deviceis essential to connect with the fabricto efiect its proper withdrawal from theknitting devices.

The needles when broken=may-beremoved by springing out the bands L L and pulling the needles :from underneath. The stitchholders H may in likemanner "be exchanged byspringing out the *band D, whichpermits them to be easily withdrawn.

Cam-plates T T may be circumferentially adjustedwith reference to the cylinder by means of bolts -W W "and elongated slots 0 c in plate V, and longitudinally by-meansof slot dand screws YY.

Hence I claim as my invention- 1. An oscillating *stitchholder provided with a thin standing web over which theyarn as it reaches from needle to needle is stretched,

i standing upon a base thioker'than said web, so as to have a projecting rib or guard on each side of the web asa-provision forfendin god the needles from contact with the sides of theweb and also provided with a'hookor notch on or in the upper edge of said web,

and an open notch in'one edge ofthebody of the same for the. reception of the fulcrumpivot, in combination with a stationary fulcru m-pivot and means, substantially as shown, for holding said stitch-holder and pivot in proper working engagement, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, with a rotary knittingneedle cylinder having a series of longitudinal slots or ways, of a series of needles working in said ways, a fulcrum-ring surrounding said cylinder, a series of stitch-holders of substantially the form described provided with open pivot-notches and pivoted so as to oscillate upon said fulcrum-ring and in radial planes between the needles, said stitch-holders having provisions, substantially as shown, for engaging the last-formed range of stitches and sinking them inwardly during the process of introducing a new feed-thread, and cams for actuating them arranged to operate substantially in the manner described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with a needle-cylinder, of a series of needles arranged to work in longitudinal grooves upon said cylinder,a series of fulcrum-pivots surrounding said cylinder, a series of stitch-holders having open pivotnotches to oscillate upon said fulcrum-pivots between said needles, and a pair of cam-plates arranged one above and the other below the pivot of oscillation for imparting to said stitch-holders their proper oscillating movements by impact therewith during the revolution of the needle-cylinder, substantially in the manner described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, substantially as shown,

gap to engage the last row of completed stitches and sink the same between the needles pivoted side by side along or upon a fulcrum-bearing,witl1 two cam-faces arranged one above and one below the plane of oscillation and adapted by their construction and connection with said stitch-supporters to impart to the same an oscillatory motion between the needles, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

6. The oscillating stitch-holder provided with the described open fulcrum-notch, 1n combination with the fulcrum-ring, slotted pivot-band, and retaining-spring band as a means for permitting individual insertion and removal of stitch-holders without disturbing the fulcrum-ring or other pivot which may be provided instead or the adjacent stitchholders, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereto subscribed my name, at Bennington, Vermont, this 18th day of August, A. D. 1888.

FRANK LASHER.

In presence of FRANKLIN Soor'r, D. L. BATES. 

